When flying and experiencing lost communications, when can you safely land at an airport?

In the context of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), when a pilot experiences a loss of communication, the protocol is to attempt to determine their situation and make decisions based on established procedures. The correct answer reflects the standard operating procedures set forth in FAR 91.185, which govern a pilot's actions during lost communications.

The guidance indicates that if a pilot determines they have lost communications, they should proceed to the destination airport and can safely land as close as possible to the estimated time of arrival (ETA), but not before that time. This helps to ensure that the pilot is able to approach and land at the airport in a manner that aligns with traffic management and expected arrival sequencing. It is crucial to allow air traffic control (ATC) adequate time to manage other aircraft and facilitate a safe landing.

In summary, this option appropriately considers both safety and communication protocols necessary during an IFR flight, allowing for a landing at the destination airport without prior ATC clearance, provided the approach is executed in accordance with standard procedures. This maintains the overall safety and efficiency of the airspace system.